Leading up to the season opener, we will preview each of South Alabama's opponents to set the stage for the season. We begin this week with season opener when South Alabama kicks of the 2022 season at home Labor Day Weekend against Nicholls in the fourth meeting all-time between the two schools.
Nicholls returns one of the best running backs in FCS in Julien Gums who was recently named to the Stats Perform FCS Walter Payton Watch List. He enters his senior season with over 2,500 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns before being injured last fall with just 313 rushing yards on 49 carries. Before his injury, he rushed for 139 yards on 19 carries in a win over North Alabama and had 105 yards on just six carries against Houston Baptist in the first quarter.
Gums and fellow returning back Colin Guggenheim (145/930/10 td) each averaged 6.4 yards per carry last season due in large part to Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America selection Evan Roussel on the offensive line. He was named third team after his performance last season after helping anchor an offensive line that ranked first in FCS in tackles for loss and eighth in sacks allowed.
They must replace Lindsey Scott, Jr. at quarterback who finished the year with 16 touchdown passes and ran for 990 yards and nine more touchdowns. They will turn to Kohen Granier (46-84-3/616/4 td) who played in eight games and will have three targets returning who caught 15 or more passes last season led by KJ Franklin (46/636/6 td). They also return Lee Negrotto (20/235/1 td) and Al'Dontre Davis (15/226/1 td).
The Colonels averaged 33.4 points per game offensively last season, but also gave up an average of 28.6 per game. On the defensive side of the football, they return Hayden Shaheen (56 tkl/6.5 tfl/1 sack/1 int) and Tyreke Boyd (49 tkl/2 tfl/2 int/1 td/1 ff) to solidify the defense. They also return Perry Ganci (34 tkl/5 tfl/6 sacks /1 fr).
Last season, Nicholls finished 6-5 (5-3 Southland) with a win over No. 15 Southeastern Louisiana (45-42) to close out the campaign. They lost a pair of games to ranked opponents and dropped a pair of games to FBS opponents to open the season including a 27-24 loss to Sun Belt Conference foe Louisiana. They finished 4-3 in the spring season (2021) off the heels of a second round FCS playoff appearance in 2019 when they finished 9-5 overall. The 2019 season was third consecutive playoff appearance for Nicholls dating back to 2017 and was the second consecutive nine-win season.
The Colonels are led by Tim Rebowe who has posted a 44-35 record at the school and return 15 starters including seven on defense. They will run multiple spread options on offense and multiple formations on defense throughout the season.
South Alabama and Nicholls have met three times in school history with the Jaguars winning all three including a 41-40 overtime thriller in 2016. Prior to that contest, the Jags won 9-3 in 2012 and 39-21 in 2010.
The two will meet at Hancock Whitney Stadium on September 3 to kick off the 2022 season, with kick set for 4 pm on Parents' Weekend. Tickets are still available by visiting USAJaguars.com or by calling the South Alabama ticket office at (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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